A few years from now, after a few weeks of hot July Virginia weather, I don't want to even think of how your porous wood box is gonna stink up your boat. At some point it's going to rot through and leave an awful mess to clean up.

But it was cheap!

Did you consider coating the whole insides with epoxy or barrier coat? At least that would have eliminated the porosity and prevented rotting from inside out.

Read it again - 5 coats of epoxy.

I, myself, personally intend to continue being outspoken and opinionated, intolerant of all fanatics, fools and ignoramuses, deeply suspicious of all those who have "found the answer" and on my bad days, downright rude.